Mike Dietz is a multi-disciplinary animator, art director, educator, and creative strategist whose versatile talents have left a mark across video games, television, film, theme parks, and education. With a career spanning nearly three decades, he’s become a respected force in animation, known for his fluid style, inventive approach, and ability to adapt to anything from hand-drawn and stop-motion to CG and mixed media.
A graduate of Syracuse University with a BFA in Advertising Design/Illustration, Mike bolstered his education through master classes in animation, anatomy, composition, and life drawing at institutions like the School of Visual Arts, Art Institute workshops, and specialized studios across Los Angeles and New York.
Since 1995, he’s operated as an independent animator and visual development artist through Slappy Pictures LLC, collaborating with clients like Disney/Pixar, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks, The Jim Henson Company, Vinton Studios/Laika, Microsoft, WD Imagineering, and Dlala Studios. His contributions span character and prop design, storyboards, animatics, full animation, cleanup, compositing, and postproduction.
Mike’s animation credits include leading work on beloved titles such as Disney’s Aladdin, Earthworm Jim, The Neverhood, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (video game), The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer, Toy Story Mania!, Wall‑E, Up, and Battletoads, among others across multiple platforms.
In addition to his freelance work, Mike has held key roles in the industry as Art Director at Intellivision Entertainment, Senior Animator at Dlala Studios, Principal Artist/Animator at PeopleFun, and as a CG Animator on Netflix’s Wendell & Wild. He also co-founded Pencil Test Studios and served as Assistant Professor of Art at Cal State Fullerton, sharing his craft and passion with aspiring animators—and even earning an Annie Award nomination for his stop-motion game Armikrog.
Now on Bookvid, Mike Dietz offers a rare opportunity to connect directly with fans, artists, and aspiring creators through personalized video messages and 1-on-1 live chats. Whether you're seeking creative mentorship, animation advice, a friendly critique, or a heartfelt shout-out from someone who knows how to bring characters to life, Mike brings warmth, skill, and boundless curiosity to every interaction.
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Common questions
How does a 1:1 video consultation work?
Browse our marketplace of the world's most in-demand experts. After choosing the right expert for you, book a 1:1 video call with them. At the time of the appointment, join the live 1:1 video call, ask the expert your questions, and get personalized high-quality advice!.
How long are the sessions?
Most of our experts offer 1:1 video consultations ranging between 5 - 90 minutes. During the booking the process, you will be able to select the duration that makes sense for you.
How much can we accomplish in a virtual session?
Generally speaking, most of our customers have been delighted with how much they achieved during their live 1:1 video consultations. We have over 5,000 five-star reviews and a high percentage of our customers rebook the same expert or additional experts because their experience exceeded their expectations. Our most popular sessions are 30 minutes long, but you can still get a lot done during a 15 minute session.
Can I book an expert more than once?
Yes. In fact, many of our customers book the same expert or a group of experts on a regular basis. There are no limits.
Why are these experts doing this?
Many of them have shared their desire for Bookvid's mission — to give everyone access to anyone, empowering each other to build a better world. They also love paying it forward and helping others advance in their journey. With Bookvid, they now have an easy-to-use platform that makes it simple to connect with like-mind folks like yourself, while also being compensated fairly for their time. In some cases, our experts are also donating a portion or all of their proceeds to the charity of their choice.
What timezones are the video consultations based in?
All of the times presented on our website and marketplace are local to your time. For example, if you're based in New York, the times will be presented in ET.
What if an expert is sold out?
Many of our experts sell out quickly. You can wait until they unlock more sessions or if they've enabled our Request a Booking feature, you can request a booking by sending them times that work for you at least seven days out. This feature is free to use and you'll only get charged when they confirm the booking (a credit card pre-auth is required).
When do experts unlock more times?
It depends on the specific expert. Some experts add sessions weekly and others add sessions monthly. We recommend booking as soon as possible to not miss out..
Can I reschedule or cancel my session?
Yes. You can reschedule calls at least 48 hours before the session. For any cancellations, or reschedules within 48 hours of the session, we do charge a fee to compensate the expert for the last minute change.
Do you have a guarantee in case I was dissatisfied?
Yes! We're confident that you'll love your first session, but in the rare case that it did not meet your expectations, let us know and we'll make things right.
Booking Mike
How do I book a video session with Mike?
Open Mike's profile on BookVid, choose a session type and an available time, then pay securely with Stripe. You'll get a confirmation email with a browser-based video-call link — no download required.
How much does a session with Mike cost?
Mike's sessions start at $250 on BookVid. Each offering shows its exact price before you pay.
Does Mike offer personalized custom videos?
Yes. You can request a personalized custom video from Mike starting at $75. Submit your request on the profile and Mike delivers a shareable, downloadable video.
What happens if Mike cancels my booking?
If Mike cancels, you're refunded automatically and can rebook another time or another verified creator on BookVid.
